The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has expressed worry over the rampant knockdown of people by vehicles in Kumasi and has consequently charged government to construct pedestrian bridges in the city to halt the anomaly.
He lamented that several people mostly students who could have grown to become influential people in society, have been killed by cars in the city, necessitating the need for footbridges at vantage points in Kumasi.
Otumfuo, in a speech read on his behalf by the Akyempimhene, Nana Adusei Poku, stated that every human life is valuable therefore the state ought to carry out important projects that could help save lives.
He was speaking during the official commissioning of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) pedestrian bridge, which is part of four pedestrian bridges being constructed at key locations to save human lives.
The government of Ghana and the Austrian government are constructing four pedestrian bridges at Tetteh Quarshie Interchange, Mallam, KNUST and Shiashie at the cost of 7.6 million Euros.
The Asantehene commended Ing Nana Poku Agyeman, the Kumasi Metropolitan Roads Director, for his hard work which had ensured the smooth completion of the KNUST footbridge and the Kaase bridge.
He urged the Kumasi Metropolitan Roads Director to continue with his good works to ensure the construction of high quality roads in Kumasi to facilitate easy movement of people and goods to boost the economy.
Minister of Roads and Highways, Alhaji Inusah Fuseini stated that the completion of the KNUST project would help stop frequent vehicular knockdowns of people, urging residents and the city authorities to properly maintain the edifice.
Kojo Bonsu, the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) Chief Executive, sternly cautioned hawkers not to trade on the pedestrian bridge, stressing that the project was constructed to prevent conflicts between people and cars “but not to trade”.
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